Using alias email addresses for multiple client records

bookitlive uses  email addresses as a unique identifier for each user account. This is a common approach used by online software because email addresses are unique with no two email addresses being the identical.

How do you cater for situation where multiple client records are required but only have one email?

Sometimes, two or more client records are required for a client that only has the one email address. 

For example, if a family had two children that required Driving Lessons but only the Mother had an email address, how do you record separate client details (Firstname, Lastname, mobile etc)?

• Mothers email:
  •  ann.smith@gmail.com
• Children details:
  • Paul Smith - 0412 111 111
  • Sally Smith - 0412 111 222

In this situation you cannot create two client records with the same email of Ann.Smith@gmail.com as each client needs to have a unique email address.

You could use a fake email address for one of the children and rely on SMS to send out the notifications.

Alternatively you could use alias email addresses for each child. Using an alias allows a client record to be created for each child and caters for sending out email notifications. 

Creating an email alias uses the "+" in the email address (before the email domain part of the email address, i.e., before the "@" part of the email address) to make a unique address. For example:

• Paul Smith ann.smith+paul@gmail.com
• Sally Smith ann.smith+sally@gmail.com

Email notifications messages sent to ann.smith+paul@gmail.com and ann.smith+sally@gmail.com are actually delivered to the inbox of ann.smith@gmail.com.

Note: Not all email providers cater for alias email addresses.